Colorado Buffs curb Cowboys with 24-0 win

BOULDER, Colo.(AP) -- The Colorado Buffaloes quieted the cacophony
of criticism stemming from their bad start with a 24-0 win over
Wyoming on Saturday.

Quarterback Cody Hawkins returned from a concussion and directed
four scoring drives, and Rodney Stewart returned from a
hamstring injury to carry 32 times for 127 yards and a two
touchdowns.

The Buffaloes (1-2) simplified their defensive game plan after
allowing 77 points and 1,000 yards in opening their season with
losses to Colorado State and Toledo, and it worked wonders.

Wyoming (1-2) went three-and-out six times in the first half,
when they managed just three first downs and 61 yards of
offense.

The Buffs led 17-0 at the half on the way to their second
shutout in the Dan Hawkins era. The first was a 42-0 whitewash
of Miami-Ohio two years ago.

It was a welcomed respite for the Buffaloes, who spent the week
defending their coach and hearing about their poor play from
fans and media - and even a geology professor who called out
linebacker Marcus Burton in class last week, according to the
senior captain.

After scoring just a field goal in the first half of each of
their first two games, the Buffaloes scored a touchdown on their
opening drive Saturday, but it took a heads-up play by wide
receiver Scotty McKnight, who scooped up tailback Demetrius
Sumler's fumble at the 2 and barreled into the end zone.

Center Mike Iltis snapped the ball over Hawkins' head on the
Buffs' next possession and Cowboys linebacker Brian Hendricks
recovered at the Colorado 18. But Austin McCoy was wide right on
a 35-yard field goal try after three snaps yielded no yards.

A failed fake punt gave the Buffs the ball at midfield and
Colorado made it 10-0 on a 20-yard field goal by Aric Goodman,
who began his collegiate career at Wyoming before transferring
to Boulder in 2007.

Stewart's 2-yard TD run made it 17-0 after cornerback Jalil
Brown recovered Darius Terry's fumble at the Cowboys 27 in the
second quarter.

The Buffs stalled on their next five possessions before making
it 24-0 on Stewart's 11-yard touchdown run. His two TDs matched
his total from last season.

The Cowboys reached the Buffs' 6 but went backward from there
and McCoy was wide left on a 37-yard field goal attempt, keeping
the shutout intact.

After completing just one of four passes for 2 yards, Cowboys
quarterback Robert Benjamin was replaced by Austyn
Carta-Samuels, who finished 11-of-24 for 125 yards.

Hawkins was 17-of-31 for 175 yards in the first meeting between
the former conference foes since 1997.